Acetylene-generator.



w. J.. CASKEY. AGETYLENB GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

1,107,756. m9111911 Aug. 18, 1911 WILLIAM J. CASKEY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

ACETYLENE-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application filed July 1, 1912. Serial No. 707,113.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VILLIAM J. CAsKnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Grenerator, of which the following is a specification.

rIhe object of my invention is to provide an acetylene burning lantern of simple and durable construction, which is especially adapted for use by train men and the like.

A further object is to provide in such a lantern, an acetylene generator of simple construction, which is easily regulated and which is so constructed as to require comparatively little regulation.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a lan` tern embodying my invention, the lower` part of the lantern containing the acetylene generator, being shown in section. Fig. 2 shows a detail sectional View of the needle valve for controlling the discharge of water into the carbid holder, and Fig. 3 shows a detail sectional view of the burner.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the frame of a lantern. This frame may be of ordinary wire construction. lVithin the frame is a glass globe 11. Preferably made integral with the frame, is a downwardly extending cylindrical portion` 12. on the lower end of the cylindrical portion 12 is a supporting base 13. On the upper end of the cylindrical portion 12 is mounted a ring 141 on the inner side of which and preferably within the portion 12 is a circumferential horizontal flange 15 which supports the globe 11. Near the upper end of the portion 12 I provide a top or partition 16 which is preferably curved upwardly to its center, shown in Fig. l. end of the portion 12 is externally screwthreaded and upon said lower end, I secure a bottom 17 provided with a circumferential, downwardly extending groove 18, the outer side of which extends upwardly above the level of the main portion of the bottom 17 and is `internally screwthreaded to receive the bottom of the portion 12. In the groove.

'Formed The lower.

18, I provide suitable packing material 19. Received within the lower end of the portion 12, is a cylindrical carbid holder 20, which is provided at the Center with a downwardly extending screwthreaded lug 21. The bottom 17 is provided with a downwardly extending lug 22 and said bottom and said lug are provided with a screwthreaded opening to receive the lug 21. It will thus be seen that the carbid holder 20 is secured to the bottoni 17 and may be removed with it by unscrewing said bottom. The carbid holder 2O is provided with a central, upwardl extending cylinder 23 on the lower part o' which I provide a series of vertical slots 24; for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth.

The carbid holder 2O is open at its upper end and received within said carbid holder is a cylindrical cover 25 open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, excepting for a plurality of perforations 26 in said upper end and excepting the downwardly extending central cylinder next described. In the center of the upper end of the cover 25, is a downwardly extending cylinder 27 open at both ends and designed to receive the cylinder 23. The cover 25 is designed to slide freely up and down within the carbid holder 20. Between the cover 25 when in the lower position of its movement, and the partition.

16, spaced apart from both, is a partition 28. Formed on the partition 28 is a central downwardly extending cylinder 29, the lower end of which is received within the cylinder 23. Below the partition and spaced apart from the same is a partition 30 provided with a plurality of perforations 31 and also with a central opening, surrounding the h cylinder 29. Between the partitions 28 and 30, I provide suit-able :filtering material 32,.

such as felt or the like. Between the partition 30 and the top of the cover 25, and surrounding the cylinder 29, I provide a conical coil spring 33.

.lhe lower portion of the tube or cylinder on which is a stein 39 extending upwardly:

llxtending upwardly through the partition 16 to a point off center of said partition. In the block 36 I provide a screwthreaded opening. A portion of the stem 39 'is screwthreacled at 40 and, the screwthreaded portion et() is received in a screwthreaded opening in the block 36. For" the reason that the stem 39 does not stand in upright position, but is somewhat inclined, it will be understood that the valve seat in the block 34; and the opening in the block 36 are of proper form for receiving the valve SSand the screwthreaded portion 40. The stem 39 is extended through an opening in the partition 16 `which `permits the free rotation of said stem. On theiupper end of the stem 39 is a lever arm 4l eX- tending laterally through a horizontal slot 42 in the cylindrical portion l2, and terminating in a handle 43. It will be seen that by moving the handle 43 ina horizontal plane, the stem 89 will be rotated and on account of the screwthreads -l0 will seat or-unseat the valve 3S as desired by the user of the lantern. The lower portion of `the `cylinder` 23 isdesigned to contain waste llor the like and thereby to present a thoroughly dampened surface each of the slots 2li and to transmit moisture to the carbid in the holder 20.

The cylinder 29 and the chamber formed between the partitions 28 and 16 are de-` signed to contain water. In the partition 16 is a detachable screwthreaded cap a5 through which water may be poured into the water holding chamber. Communicating with the space between the partitions 2S and 30, at one side of the center thereof, and inclined upwardly to the center of the partition 16 and then vertically upwardly, is a gas discharge tube 46 in the upper end of which is a burner 47. rlhe upper end of the tube 46 is internally screwthreaded and the burner -li' is externally screwthreaded and is` of ordinary construction with the exception that the burner is provided with an outwardly flaring wall 48 designed to extend to position above the discharge end of the burner and to protect the flame from side draft.

In the practical operation of my improvedI The cover 25 is removed and the carbid` holder is filled with carbid. The cover is replaced and the parts are installed in position. The spring 88 may be left loose or may be secured to the partition 30 if desired. Ihe cap a5 may be removed and the chamber below the partition 16 may be filled with water. rl`he water passes downwardly through the tube 29, and through the opening in the block 34e into the cylinder 23 where it is received by the waste 44e. The moisture passes through the slots 2st into the carbid in the holder 20. As the gas is gen- -moisture to the carbid, the sludge or eX- hausted carbid expands, and the cover 25 is `thereby moved upwardly. When the holder is first filled and the cover is at the downward position of its movement, moisture passes through the waste all and through the lower ends of the vertical slots 24 into the carbid at the bottom of the carbid holder. als the lowerl carbid is used up and expands, the cover is raised, thereby raising the cylinder 27 and enabling the moisture to pass through the slots 24 to the carbid at a higher point than at first. As fast as the carbid in the lower part of the holder is exhausted, the expansion of the carbid raises the cover of the holder and admits moisture to the fresh carbid above that which has been used. It will therefore be seen that the construction of my device is such that, las the carbid is used, the cylinder 27 is automatically raised to the proper point for admitting moisture to the unused carbid, thereby enabling me to secure a constant steady light with comparatively little adjustment of the needle valves. By using the lower carbid first andgradually raising the point of the water feed I constantly meisten fresh carbid and secure a constant, steady light. Inmany generators the moisture is fed continuously to the carbid at the same point. TWhen the carbid around the water feed becomes dead, the moisture does not pass so readily to the fresh carbid and the light becomes dim.

My improved lantern has the advantage of extreme simplicity of construction. The parts are easy to assemble and may bereadily takenV apart for repairing or replacing any of them. The cylinder l2, containing most of the mechanism is made a part of the lantern frame and is preferably somewhat longer than the ordinary lantern base.

With my improved generator, the water is fed to the carbid `beginning at thebottom thereof and the mechanism is automatically moved by the expansion of the carbid for feeding the water to the carbid at the proper point. By the arrangement of my device, I avoid clogging the passage ways through which the water reaches the carbid.

I claim as my invention:

l. A cylindrical casing, having a water tank in theupper end thereof and open at its lower` end, a detachable cover for the lower end, a: carbid capsule detachably secured to said cover and designed to extend upwardly within the lower end of said casing, a perforated cap telescopically mounted within said capsule and having an opening in its center, an upwardly extending tube in the center of said capsule provided with longitudinal slots in the lower portion of its sides, a downwardly extending tube on the center of said cap telescopically mounted upon said upwardly extending tube, a tube in communication with and extending downwardly from the center of the bottom of said tank, the lower end of which is designed to enter the upwardly extending tube tube in the bottom of said water tank, and yielding means for holding said partition against the said lter.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, a cylindrical casing, a water tank in the upper end thereor, a gas conveying tube extending upwardly from said tank, a downwardly extending tube in communication with, and from the bottom of, said tank, a detachable block in the bottom of said tube, an opening having a valve seat in said block, an up-` wardly inclined valve stem designed to coact with said valve seat and extending through the top of said water tank, a lever for actuating said valve stem, and means secured to Said block for holding the lower end of said valve stem in alinement with said valve seat.

Des Moines, Iowa, June 21, 1912.

WILLIAM J. CASKEY.

Witnesses:

Bnss E DEAL, SARA ROBINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D; C. 

